Govt allocates TZS 700bn for Stiegler’s Gorge power project

The Government has allocated TZS 700 billion in the 2018/19 financial year for implementation of the 2,100- megawatt Rufiji Hydro Power Project, commonly known as Stiegler’s Gorge project.

This was revealed by the Minister for Energy Mr. Medard Kalemani in Dodoma recently when tabling in Parliament his ministry’s budget estimates.

Dr. Kalemani said tender evaluation has been completed and that preliminary work was scheduled to start in July this year to be followed by the main project works which are expected to be concluded within 36 months.

“Implementation of this major project is an important catalyst to drive the country towards achieving its middle income target by 2025,”said the minister.

He added that during the 2018/19 financial year the works to be undertaken include construction of the main dam and spillways, tunnels, camps and offices.

The project is expected to create 10,000 jobs during construction and 1,000 permanent jobs thereafter.

Early December last year four firms presented bids for implementation of the project which will involve among others, construction of a 134-metre main dam and associated structures with the expected total reservoir storage capacity of 34,000 million cubic metres and covering an area of about 1,350 sq. km.